James Martin is a an award winning farmer from Northern Ireland, who was named winner at this year’s prestigious Balmoral event. He uses the COSEICURE Cattle boluses annually on his herd and has been extremely happy with the results.

James commented; ‘ I use CoseIcure Cattle Boluses every year without fail on my premier Belgium Blues and have had great results. I had used other boluses in the past but they did not live up to my expectations. The CoseIcure boluses have not only addressed mineral deficiencies in the herd, but I have also seen a marked improvement in weight gain, thrive and herd fertility. I find them extremely convenient to use, as a single application provides a steady supply of cobalt, selenium iodine and copper over the entire grazing season. Increased weight gain gives me a competitive edge; allowing me to secure top market prices and the improved condition and healthy coat which results from their use, was instrumental in my win at this year’s balmoral event.

James Martin Newtownards, Co Down

The COSECURE and Zincosel cattle and sheep boluses perform very well on my clients’ farms.

In the cattle this has become very mainly at calving time. I have observed that cattle which use the Cosecure range often calve down faster. The resulting calf is up and sucking very quickly. The dam then cleanses within 24 hours and there is a reduced incidence of endometritis at 21 days post calving.

In the sheep the lambs which have benefitted from the product have a better live weight gain, meaning they are sold earlier. The ewes have a better pregnancy rate compared to those which have not had the product.

I also very much appreciate the technical support we get from the company. They display a very responsible attitude to the recommendation of boluses on farms and do not recommend the products unless a need for supplementation has been shown. This truly independent advice is very rare in a large company.

Oli Hodgkinson BVSc, Cert. SH&P, MRCVS, partner at Trefaldwyn Vets in Montgomery, Powys, UK.

I have been using COSECURE boluses on my hill ewes for the last 7 years and I am very happy with the results, especially as my hill ewes receive no supplementary feeding.

Iain MacKay, Torloisk Farm

The CoseIcure soluble glass boluses supply the same levels of ionic copper, cobalt, selenium and iodine every single day for up to 6 months. These trace elements can play a vital role in fertility and health.

The CoseIcure range is enjoying rapid growth in Ireland; and is being increasingly specified by farmers, vets and merchants, who are looking for a high quality bolus that provides a solid return on investment.

One such farmer is Aiden Leddy click here to learn about the difference that CoseIcure cattle boluses have made on his farm.

Scientific Papers

click on a link to view a report or trial.

Effects of a Long Acting Trace Mineral Rumen Bolus Upon Range Cow Productivity
Jim E. Sprinkle², David W. Schafer², Paul Cunco², Doug Tolleson² and R. Mark Enns³, ²The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, ³Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado

Effects of three types of trace element supplementation on the fertility of three commercial dairy herds
D.H. Black, N.P. French, The Veterinary Record, May 22, 2004

The Effect of Cosecure on the conception rate and trace element status of dairy cattle
A.M. Mackenzie, M.M. Moeini and S.B. Telfer, Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds

Effect of a Soluble Colbalt, Selenium and Zinc Glass Bolus on Humoral Immune Response and Trace Elements Status in Lambs
N.R. Kendall, A.M. Mackenzie, and S.B. Telfer, Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds

Measuring copper status
Telsol

The molecular basis of copper and iron interactions
Paul Sharp, Centre for Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, University of Surrey

Role of rumen in copper and thiomolybdate absorption
L. Gould and N.R. Kendall, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham

The Responses to Increased Trace Element Inclusion
S.B. Telfer, Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds

The effect of a zinc, cobalt and selenium soluble glass bolus on trace element status of extensively grazed sheep over winter 
N.R. Kendall¹, D.W. Jackson¹, A.M. Mackenzie², D.V. Illingworth¹, I.M. Gill³ and S.B. Telfer^1
1Centre for Animal Sciences, Leeds Institute of Biotechnology and Agriculture, School of Biology, University of Leeds, ²School of Agriculture, Harper Adams University College, ³Thrums Veterinary Group

Effect of a copper, cobalt and selenium glass bolus given to grazing sheep 
N.R. Kendall¹, A.M. Mackenzie², S.B. Telfer^3
1School of Human Development, Academic Division of Reproductive Medicine, Queen's Medical Centre, ²Harper Adams Animal Science Research Centre, Harper Adams University College, ³Centre for Animal Sciences, Leeds Institute of Biotechnology and Agriculture, School of Biology, University of Leeds

The Effect of a Zinc, Cobalt and Selenium Soluble Glass Bolus on Trace Element Status and Semen Quality of Ram Lambs  
N.R. Kendall, S. McMullen, A. Green, R.G. Rodway, Centre for Animal Sciences, Leeds Institute of Biotechnology and Agriculture, School of Biology, University of Leeds

The Effect of Soluble-glass Boluses Containing Copper, Cobalt and Selenium on the Blood Composition of Ewes 
G. Zervas¹, S.B. Telfer², G. Carlos^3
1Agricultural College of Athens, Greece, ²Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds, ³Central Veterinary Laboratory, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey

How To's

click on a link to view one of the instructions.

Cattle Bolus Applicator Instructions
Sheep Bolus Applicator Instructions
Lamb Bolus Applicator Instructions

Think you know about copper? Think you know about boluses? Did you know that some commonly held beliefs about copper, copper deficiency and nutritional supplements are not correct.

Click on the copper myths below to find out the facts.

Cosecure boluses contain a unique form of rumen-available ionic copper.
Let’s find out a bit more about why this is significant.

Is All Copper The Same And Are All Boluses The Same?

The critical difference between Cosecure and other nutritional supplements is that Cosecure supplies rumen-available elements.

The copper in our unique boluses is in the form of ionic copper, which is active in the same pH range as the rumen. This means that the minerals are highly available to the animals in the rumen.

Some boluses supply copper in the form of Copper Oxide. Copper Oxide is active at much lower pH levels, and requires exposure to abomasal acidity before release of the copper.

Why does it matter if the elements are rumen available?

The cow will ingest molybdenum and sulphur through its diet. Molybdenum and sulphur bind together to form something called Thiomolybdate. Thiomolybdate is very ‘copper-hungry’. It binds with copper in the rumen and when there is no copper left in the rumen, it moves into the bloodstream and binds to the copper-co-dependent enzymes there.

These enzymes are vital for fertility and productivity. When the molybdenum and sulphur combination (thiomolybdate) binds with these copper enzymes in the blood, they are rendered inactive, so fertility and productivity are impaired. Some farmers will know this as ‘copper lock’ or ‘secondary copper deficiency’. We know it as TMT (or thiomolybdate toxicity).

To stop ‘copper lock’ or ‘TMT’ occurring, we need to stop the molybdenum and sulphur combination (thiomolybdate), from moving out of the rumen and into the bloodstream. The only way to do this is to supply enough copper in the rumen to satisfy the thiomolybdate’s ‘copper hunger’.

Because Cosecure’s copper is rumen-available, it is able to do this. It supplies copper in the rumen continuously for up to 6 months, meaning the thiomolybdate doesn’t pass into the blood in search of more copper; it doesn’t bind with the blood’s copper-dependent enzymes and it therefore doesn’t impair fertility and productivity.

The boluses also contain rumen-available ionic cobalt. Why is it important that the boluses also supply rumen-available cobalt?

Unlike cobalt-oxide boluses, the Cosecure boluses supply ionic cobalt which is rumen-available.

Bacteria in the rumen require cobalt in order to synthesize Vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is vital for energy utilisation and productivity. The body has no capacity to store cobalt, so Cosecure’s ability to continually supply rumen-available cobalt for up to 6 months is ideal for improving cobalt supply and promoting health in cattle.

What other factors affect that fertility, immunity, thrive and productivity?

Lots of factors! Fertility, immunity, thrive and productivity are extremely complex issues with many causes and it is important to always consult a vet and understand your herd’s nutritional status before using any boluses, medicines or other nutritional products. For more information on the bolus range, contact your vet.